Cooking apparatus



May 5, 1931. c. D. STARR COOKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled Oct. 1. 192' lave/3230a": tlareazoell JEarr, W V

c. D STARR 1,804,129

' COOKING APPARATUS May 5, 1931.

Original Filed Oct. 1, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Izwea'aioz Clarence D. 6W5"Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED I STATES PATENT QFFIQE CLARENCE D. STARR, 0FBARRIN GTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BAR-STOW STOVE COMPANY, OFPROVIDENCE, RHODE TSLAN'D, A CORPORATION" OF RHODE ISLAND COOKINGAPPARATUS Original application filed October 1, 1927, Serial No.223,361. Divided and this application filed October 27, 1928. Serial No.315,551.

This application is a division of my pending application Serial No.223,361, filed October l, 1927.

The invention relates to cooking apparatus, particularly but notexclusively to domestic ranges using, for example, fluid fuel such asgas or oil, or electricity for heat generation. 1

The invention, which has among its objects the control of the heatgeneration of the range in accordance with conditions in a cookingvessel, will be. best understood from the following descriptionwhen readin the light of the accompanying drawings of one embodiment of theinvention, while the scope of the invention will be more particularlyointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of a fragment of the top of a gas rangeconstructed according to the invention Fig. 2 is a section on the line22 of Fig. 1 showing a cooking vessel constructed accoigiding to theinvention abovethe burner; an

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of V Fig. 2.

The drawings show, as one example of the invention, a gas range providedwith a thermostatically governed valve controlled by steam generated ina cooking vessel, or the like, heated by the gas burner. It will beunderstood that the invention is not limited to fluid fuelranges, andthat with other kinds of ranges other controlling means may besubstituted for the valve, as for example a suitable switch when theinvention is applied to an electric range.

Referring to the drawings the range illustrated comprises a supportingframe having bar-like front and end members 1 and bar-like longitudinaland transverse members 3 arranged to provide a plurality of openings 5of generally rectangular shape.

a As shown carried by said frame and extend- 11 carried in therespective opening beneath the supporting member. Herein each burner isconnected by a mixing tube 13 and gas cook 15 to a gas manifold 17 forthe several burners, said cock having an operating handle19 for manuallyestablishing, interrupting and varying the fuel supply to the burner.

As an example of themanner of control-.

ling the gas supply, but without limitation thereto, the gas cook 15 mayhave associated therewith a thermostatically controlled valve in acasing 20. Various suitable forms of thermostatic devices may beemployed in connection with the valve, said devices herein exemplifiedby a liquid filled-heat sensitive tube communicating with a casing 21,the tube and easing filled with a liquid such as ether so that expansionand contraction of the liquid will be effective to actuate a diaphragmin the casing 21 for more or less closing a gas valve operativelyconnected to the diaphragm. As the details of the thermostaticallycontrolled valve do not form part of the present invention, it will notbe described with any more particularity than necessary to show how itcoacts with the present invention.

As shown the diaphragm casing 21 situated at that side of the adjacentbar 1 which is opposite the burner so that said diaphragm casing will berelatively unaffected by the heat of the burner.

As shown the front bar-like member 1 has rigidly secured thereto at theside'thereof adjacent the burner, by means of bolts 25, a bracket 27,said bracket being formed integrally with a vertically extending tube 29the upper face 31 of which is below the upper faces 33 of the radialmembers 9 forming the lane of support for the cookingvessel. s shown thetube 29 is formed near its upper end with an interiorly positioned ringor annular shoulder portion 35 which supports the lower end of aremovable tube 37, the latter extendingto above said plane of supportfor the cooking vessel and together with the tube 29 forming anelongated tube or flue. Astshown the end of the'heat sensitive tube 23extends through radial perforations 39 in the lower end of the tubeportion 29 so as to be exposed to the flow through the flue.

The cooking vessel shown herein is of the type known as a percolator,but obviously the invention is not limited to any particular type ofvessel. As shown the vessel is provided with a body 41 having a hingedcover 4:3, while said body has attached to,

the side thereof a handle 45 which preferably is of suitable heatinsulating material. Extending through the handle is shown. a tube 47which communicates with the interior of the vessel near its top at 49,the lower end of the tube projecting from the handle to form aenipple 51spaced from the walls of the vessel and adapted to be inserted in. theupper end of the tube 37.

Opposite thehandle the cooking vessel is shown as provided with a spout53 having a hinged cover 55 which will permit liquid being pouredthrough the spout, but which will prevent escape of steam and vaporsfrom the spout under normal pressures, thereby causing the steam toescape through the tube 4 7 and to. discharge against the heat sensitivetube. Conveniently the parts may be. so constructed and designed as toprovide that the thermostatically controlled valve will be substantiallywide open until the contents of the vessel reach about the boilingpoint, whereupon the steam then discharging through ,the flue against'the heat sensitive tube will close the valve sufficie'ntly to prevent.violent boiling, with the result that saving of gas is effected andboiling over of the, vessel is prevented. Opening or removal of the lidfrom the vessel will cause a current of air to ascend through the flue'29, 27 and tube 47, thereby causing relatively cool air to. flowagainst the heat sensitive element for increasing the flame when thecover is removed.

Preferably means, are provided for preventing clogging of the-tube 4:7with condensation whichwhas the effect of interrupting, flow through thetube, particularly downward flow of steam. For this purpose the, lowerend face 57 of the tube is shown as cut at a relatively sharp angle,which construction I have found will cause effective drainage of allcondensation, and preventclogging of said tube.

It will be observed thatv removal of the tube 37 will result inabsenceof projections above the. plane, of support for the cooking vessel, andthat undersuch conditions, the heat sensitive tube issubjectedtorelatively coolpair, which results int-he thermostatically controlledvalve being in opencondition, permitting the flow of gas to becontrolled by the manually operated handle 19.

Although I have described but .one'embodiment of the invention it istobe understood that. wide deviations. may be, made from this embodimentwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims:

1. Cooking apparatus having, in combi nation, a support for a cookingvessel, a heaterbelow the plane of said support, said vessel having aconduit for establishing communication between the interior of saidvessel adjacent its top and the exterior thereof at a point spaced fromits side walls above its bottom, a thermostatically governed controllerfor said heater having a heat sensitive element, a flue below the planeof said support for directing currents of air and-steam against saidheat sensitive element, and a readily removable tube for extending saidflue to above the plane of said support for connecting said flue to saidconduit.

2. Cooking apparatus having, in combination, a support for a cookingvessel, a heater below the plane of said support, said vessel having aconduit for establishing communication between the interior of saidvessel adjacent itstop and the exterior thereof at a point spaced fromits side walls above its bottom, a thermostatically governed controller.for said heater having a heat sensltive element, an open-ended fluebelow the plane ofsaid support, said heat,

name to this specification.

CLARENCE D. STARR.

